19. 2011 Game 1 Eastern Conference First Round vs. Boston Celtics

19.  2011 Game 1 Eastern Conference First Round vs. Boston Celtics

After what seemed like an eternity,[1] the Knicks were playing basketball in late April.  I finally got to witness a playoff game since the first time I was an eighth grader at A.B. Davis Middle School, fawning over some girl named Olivia.

Unfortunately, the Knicks first playoff game ended in heartbreaking fashion, a loss in Boston, to the hated Celtics[2].

  The Knicks actually came out strong to start the game, which led Knicks fans believe we actually had a chance to win this series. They even led by 12 at halftime! This was a team who had dominated the Knicks during the Dolan Era.  I still remember this game to this very day.  The Celtics fought back in the second half, but the Knicks were still able to take a slim five-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The fourth quarter took years off my life, as both teams went back and forth trading the lead.  When Toney Douglas hit a three pointer[3] with about 35 seconds to go, to give the Knicks a three-point lead, I was ecstatic!  The Knicks were finally going to win a playoff game for the first time in TEN YEARS!!  But then, the Knicks inexplicably allowed the Celtics to convert an alley-oop off coming off of a timeout, which cut the lead to one. 

On the ensuing possession, the Knicks gave the ball to Melo.  Even though he was having a rough shooting night, (5-17 at that point), I thought to myself, “Of course, he was going to score and ice the game. This is why the Knicks gave up half of their team and future draft picks, just for moments like these. “

 But Paul Pierce flopped, and Melo was called for a bullshit offensive foul with 21 seconds remaining.  How many times has he flopped in his career? 10? 20? 10000??  Remember this?   What I thought and what they called were two different things," Anthony said after the game. Everyone with a semi-functional brain, knew that was a bad call, except for Doc Rivers. 

“Heck of a call to make," he said, "but it was the right call."

Of course, it was the right call Doc.  Had he been on the other end of that call, he’d be bitching about the refs like he did here, here, here and here.

On the next possession, Ray Allen hits a three, aided by the 400000^th million illegal screen set by Kevin Garnett, which put the Celtics up two with 11 seconds left. 

Out of timeouts, the Knicks raced up the court, Melo got the ball and shot desperation three that missed, and just like that, the Knicks lost the game.

How painful!  

This game ruined a great night from Amare who finished with 28 pts and 11 rebs. Even though the Knicks lost this game, they were confident they would still be able to win the series.

And then there was Game 2…….

Up Next: 18.  2011 Game 2 Eastern Conference First Round vs. Boston Celtics

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[1] Actually it was seven years, but it sure seemed like an eternity.

[2] At least Larry Bird did not walk out through that door..

[3] Billups sprained his knee with a minute left  to go, and would not play another game in a Knick uniform.

20. 2013 Game 6 ECSF vs. Indiana Pacers

Ahhhhhh, the game that gave me the idea to come up with this list in the first place. The Knicks were supposed to beat the Pacers to set up an anticipated Eastern Conference Finals matchup with the Miami Heat.

But the Pacers had other plans…

After having their best season in over a decade, surprising everyone by winning 54 games, the Knicks’ season abruptly ended in Indiana. The Knicks had nearly come back from a 3-1 series deficit to force a game 7 , but Carmelo decided to channel his inner John Starks, scoring only 4 points in the 4^th. To be fair, it wasn’t his entire fault the Knicks lost that game, in fact he doesn’t even get 5% of the blame if you ask me.  He did finish the game with 39 points and besides of a few Shumpert threes, no other Knick showed up on the offensive end. The Knicks shot terribly throughout the series, including J.R. Smith who shot an abysmal 4-15 in game 6 and 29% for the entire series[1] and Raymond Felton, who somehow ended up finishing the game without making a field goal.

Of course, there is the block, which is the most memorable part of this game and spurred an 11-2 run, but the most painful part of this game is watching New York High School legend, Lance Stephenson score a playoff career high 25 points, including nine points during the run. The Knicks passed on him twice in the 2010 NBA Draft, drafting Landry Fields and Andy Rautins.[2] Now three years later, instead of having him on the team, the Knicks were forced to watch Lance Stephenson torture Knicks in the 4^th quarter like Reggie Miller used to do.

            The Knicks haven’t been to the playoffs since then. But do not worry; the free agent signings of Robin Lopez, Derrick Williams, and Kyle O'quinn will propel the Knicks back into the playoffs, right?[3]

In Derek Fisher we trust!


Up Next : #19.  2011 Game 1 Eastern Conference First Round vs. Boston Celtics

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[1] He was never the same after throwing an elbow to Jason Terry

[2]  What a surprise, another Knicks draft blunder

[3] I somehow forgot to include Aaron Affalo, what a misstep.